SCENE
Lord Darlington’s Rooms. A large sofa
is in front of fireplace R. At the back of the stage
a curtain is drawn across the window. Doors L.
and R. Table R. with writing materials. Table
C. with syphons, glasses, and Tantalus frame.
Table L. with cigar and cigarette box. Lamps
lit.
Lady Windermere. [Standing by the fireplace.]
Why doesn’t he come? This waiting is
horrible. He should be here. Why is he
not here, to wake by passionate words some fire within
me? I am cold— cold as a loveless
thing. Arthur must have read my letter by this
time. If he cared for me, he would have come
after me, would have taken me back by force.
But he doesn’t care. He’s entrammelled
by this woman—fascinated by her—dominated
by her. If a woman wants to hold a man, she
has merely to appeal to what is worst in him.
We make gods of men and they leave us. Others
make brutes of them and they fawn and are faithful.
How hideous life is! . . . Oh! it was mad of
me to come here, horribly mad. And yet, which
is the worst, I wonder, to be at the mercy of a man
who loves one, or the wife of a man who in one’s
own house dishonours one? What woman knows?
What woman in the whole world? But will he love
me always, this man to whom I am giving my life?
What do I bring him? Lips that have lost the
note of joy, eyes that are blinded by tears, chill
hands and icy heart. I bring him nothing.
I must go back— no; I can’t go back,
my letter has put me in their power—Arthur
would not take me back! That fatal letter!
No! Lord Darlington leaves England to-morrow.
I will go with him—I have no choice. [Sits
down for a few moments. Then starts up and puts
on her cloak.] No, no! I will go back, let
Arthur do with me what he pleases. I can’t
wait here. It has been madness my coming.
I must go at once. As for Lord Darlington—Oh!
here he is! What shall I do? What can
I say to him? Will he let me go away at all?
I have heard that men are brutal, horrible . . .
Oh! [Hides her face in her hands.]
[Enter Mrs. Erlynne L.]
Mrs. Erlynne. Lady Windermere! [Lady
Windermere starts and looks up. Then recoils
in contempt.] Thank Heaven I am in time. You
must go back to your husband’s house immediately.
Lady Windermere. Must?
Mrs. Erlynne. [Authoritatively.] Yes,
you must! There is not a second to be lost.
Lord Darlington may return at any moment.
Lady Windermere. Don’t come
near me!
Mrs. Erlynne. Oh! You are on
the brink of ruin, you are on the brink of a hideous
precipice. You must leave this place at once,
my carriage is waiting at the corner of the street.
You must come with me and drive straight home.
[Lady Windermere throws off her cloak and
flings it on the sofa.]
